Memoir for Chaitram Mangal

It was 1987. As I walked off the main Public Road in #79 Village, Corriverton, Berbice, Guyana, down a side alley that lead to a backyard pavilion, I wondered what was I getting myself into. Little did I know, it was the beginning of life long relationships with people from all walks of life. One most memorable relationship was with Chaitram Mangal.

 

A short little dark skinned boy was wrapped with a broad yellow belt that held his starch white clothes together. My very first impression was, damn his feet can fly. This was Chait, as I grew to know him by, practicing his kicks. Great impression for a first timer at Karate School. Sensei Lionel Charran, conducted Power Karate, a Kyo Kushin Kai Japanese style of martial arts, dojo. Sensei Charran gave a place to call home for us impressionable young minds. Being a small group it was quick to make friends and bond with people.

Chait was a prominent fixture at Karate school. He showed up and practiced with vigor. Never did he back down from a sparring match. Even when he encountered the hurry up action of Azam Hamid. I recalled Chait asking in the middle of a sparring session, “Banna, can I get a technique in? Stop running me around the dojo, man.” He stood up to the brute force of Dhanraj kicks and deflected the solid punches of Gary. Even at this young age, Chait was a fighter.

Later as I got to know the boy behind those vicious kicks, it all made sense. Growing up in Guyana during those times was tough as it still is today. Young men hustled to make a decent living. Chait never rested, he sold cigarettes and anything else to make a dollar, at #79 Market. Many times, I saw him helping people with their baskets. He had a ring of brothers in Rovin and Boman. Those guys were inseparable. You saw one, look around, the other was right behind. They brought that same bond from the market into the dojo and extended it to anyone they met.

If Chait knew you, he never passed without saying hello. Even for a brief tap, or hand shake, he made sure you knew he was around. His radiant and infectious upbeat personality always followed wherever he went.

Now that you are resting, Chait, I will always remember that first impression. If that lil coolie boy can do karate why can’t I? You showed the world that life is what you make of it, for that I am forever grateful. Rest in Peace my friend, Rest in Peace.

Negativism of Foreign Based Guyanese.

I am sick and tired of being sick and tired listening to grumpy overseas based Guyanese bitch and moan about a country they no longer live in. What gives you the right to constantly barrage a country that you don’t visit nor keep up with its current affairs? Are you the authority on global development when you make do with less than a high school education and live in a cold hole in the ground?

When was the last time you visited Guyana? Yes, you with the big mouth who seeks to comment on every positive post made on Facebook about Guyana. I guessing not in the last 30 years. When you ran out of Guyana, far away from the suppressive regime, you left everything behind. There is no shame in trying to have a better life for yourself and your family. Every person in this world is entitled to live a better existence. Tons and tons of people fled Guyana to England, Canada and the US. Great for all of us who are fortunate enough to have this opportunity. But have we gone back? We travel to exotic locales, flood our Facebook Profiles, Pages and Groups with the latest smart phone pics or super pics from our best of the best camera equipment that we still can’t use to its fullest extend. Bore our “friends” to death with constant pics of our pets, children and grandchildren. ( I am guilty of pet pics). Show off our Photoshop skills with unrealistic photo mastery and reshare every quote of majestic wisdom that we can find on the internet. But have we gone back?

Have we taken that same money we so lavishly spend in foreign excursions and put it into the Guyanese economy? Have you seen the majestic Kaiteur Falls, that you so passionately reshare 100 times on Facebook, up close and personal? Did you know that there is a canopy that stretches high in the Guyanese Rainforest at Iwokrama  Walkway Canopy, but you’ve visited the tropical rainforest of Belize and Costa Rica? Have you seen the Rupunni Rodeo, but you visit the rodeo in Texas all the time? Did you know there is an international standard hotel and casino name Princess, but you spent the week at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas? Have you dined at New Thriving Chinese Restaurant or the swanky Vintage Wine and Cheese Lounge? But you find is necessary to post and check into every paper plate and plastic fork little hole that you call fine dining? You didn’t know Guyana has some great establishments? Well, like I said….”You are not current.”

How are you the global authority on public development? You didn’t finish high school. If you did finish high school, your so called “superior British education” is not accepted in Canada and the US. Instead of digging in and adjusting yourself, you fell out of education to work three minimum wage jobs to take care of your family of 5. If, like the majority of people who migrate to foreign lands, you live in the cold tundra you are on the subways, buses or walking in several feet of snow and ice at ungodly hours of the morning and days struggling to make ends meet. Oh you thought money fell from trees over here, right. Yep, they lied to you. You have to work and work hard. Tell me when you have time or can really say you are the authority on public development. Oh so you were fortunate enough to slip into college or your parents worked those three jobs scrubbing toilets so that you can get a college education. Now that makes you the holier than thou authority on any kind of development in Guyana. Really, during your education did you study anything about Guyana or how to develop a third world country? You do what? Fix cars and equipment? Yet for all you are the authority?

Truth be told we are nowhere in any position to condemn what we know nothing about. We can render opinions. Our shared travels and living experiences can shed some light on “If it works somewhere else it could work for Guyana.” But it does not make our words gospel. Imagine, your mother tells you how disappointed she is in you everytime she speaks to you? Wouldn’t you eventually feel like a disappointment in yourself? So then, why do you feel the need to spew negativity about everything that comes out of Guyana? The next time you have the urge to make a negative Facebook comment about Guyana, stop and ask yourself, “How is my comment going to make anything better?”

Fresh take on Bappi Lahiri from DFlex with Yaad Aa Raha Hai

If you know Bappi Lahiri renditions from the Bollywood blockbuster movie Disco Dancer then you are as fortunate as I am and as old. If not, then familiarize yourself with a legend in Bollywood Dance Music. DFlex has taken a page out of Bappi Lahiri’s own foray into synthesized music.

During the 80s, Bappi Lahiri teamed up with popular Indian movie star Mithun Chakraborty to showcase what is now known as Indian Disco Music. It was these times that I relished in being a little disco dancer of my own. Ah the frivalry of youth. Growing up in Guyana, Indian movies was a big influence in daily life. Whatever movie was playing that week or weeks, depending how big a crowd still lined up towards the end of showing, was all the talk at culvert corners. (What’s a culvert? It is at the end of a street, normally at an intersect of streets, where people gather to discuss the day’s events. Oh youngin.) I have vivid memories of Mithun shaking on the screen to Bappi Lahiri’s belting out Yaad Aa Raha Hai.

Fast forward 30 odd years later, those beats might loose a little luster. Enter DFlex, teaming up with Mohan Rishi Lakhan of X3me Band and Rick Ramdehall, with his vivid take on West Indian music. Flex has taken some great risk and produced great music. He has done some really interesting work in Reggae and Indian crossovers with Stealth Productions. It is a little surprising and caught me completely off guard that he added a Euro flair with Indian and Reggae undertones. The first few seconds had me taking stance for a full frontal Pitbull type assault. Then the mix came in and I was totally off balance. To take an already heavy dance beat from one continent and mix it with a different genre from another continent then add synthesized and vocals in two languages is no ordinary feat, all along keeping everything liquid.

I’ve heard fragments of this type of mixing in high energy clubs of Singapore and Miami years ago. Musical beats has a way of working itself around, evolving, morphing into a living, breathing being. Throwing caution in the wind and letting the creative juices flow only brings greatness. This mix has the hallmarks of a staggering summer closer and will increase the heat throughout fall as the temperature drops. I wouldn’t be surprised if this beat is heating up your Christmas parties or ringing in the New Year.

Here is an Instrumental Version

You waited long enough Enter the Newbie

If you were following my last few post, there was a missing element. You did not notice? Remember, where I hinted that Gemini Band was collaborating with the old and the new? Take a deep breath, I give you Reina Gonzalez!

Photo Credits: Neil Anthony Bacchus. Pictured: Reina

Reina was born in the home of Chutney and Soca, a little island better known as Trinidad. Hailing from greats who introduced a whole new genre to the world, Reina brings a fresh new spark to the music world. She currently resides in NYC.

Her passion for music transcends all genre, but the rhythmic sounds of R & B, reggae and soca takes her deeper nirvana. In 2010, Reina joined Gemini Band and performed live for the first time. According, to DFlex, she brought the house down!

What’s on the horizon? A collaborative effort with Stealth Productions, Gemini Band, and Rick Ramdehal releasing later this week. Next, her first single teaming up with Stealth Productions and Gemini Band releasing soon.

I had a sneak peek at listening to her sing and watching her performance. I’ll give you this, brace yourself! 

Veteran Gemini Band takes the stage

Look around and listen to recent music releases, can you recognize the so called bands? It is very hard to tell who has staying power or who has worked with blazing artistes. Strumming in the background, making good artist sound great has been a quiet veteran, Gemini Band.  

Founding member Ramdeo Seelochan blazed a trail with Gemini Band for the current crop of bands, performers, and musicians. Gemini was the first Indo Caribbean Band to play at Madison Square Garden. Fusion of Bollywood and Soca beats, with the release of Sally Edwards version of Piya Tu Ab To Aja, first echoed from Gemini speakers. Success came with multiple hits from Anand Yankarran, Sally Edwards, Rajdai Singh, Drupattie Ramgoni, Veena Khetani, Salima Mohammed, Terry Gajraj , Rick Ramdehal, DFlex, Jimmel Fortune, Mr. Lee, and Rasheed Bacchus.Gemini brought the house down with Live performances in Florida, Texas, Schenectady, Toronto, Guyana, Trinidad, Maryland, Boston and New York.They played back up for Sparrow, Calypso Rose, Crazy, and Super Blue.

With the exhausting regurgitation of the same old sounds and constant copying of another’s lyrics, the Band has heightened their focus on writing, creating and recording all new and original pieces. A new collaboration with Stealth Productions will sharpen and refocus. New project releasing next week.


Photo credit: Neil Anthony Bacchus. On left Steve, Middle Ray, Right Michael Seelochan


Founding Member: Ramdeo Seelochan

Band Members
Michael Seelochan
Ray Seelochan
Steve Seelochan
Videsh Seelochan
Mr Lee
Reina Gonzalez
Rick Ramdehal
Rasheed Bacchus
Randy
Engineers: Ruy and Richie

West Indians slow down a bit

The sweltering summer heat is causing a major sweat fest in the Americas. People who were born and raised in the Caribbean heat can’t handle a little mercury rising anymore. My guess is our blood got a little thicker with the white powdery stuff dem fariegna call snow. So why add heat to more heat?

Stealth Productions latest project is slowing things down a bit and offering a mellowed out vibe. Veterans and newbies come together with a fresh new take on an old stalwart. In the music world of ever evolving sounds, our Caribbean community seems stuck on regurgitating the same old same old. Over the years and several projects, Stealth Productions aim to break that stigma.

Photo Credit: Neil Anthony Bacchus. Pictured: Rick Ramdehal

Meet Rick Ramdehal, a veteran in his own right, who teamed up with a fresh new voice and a veteran band to mellow out the sounds of old and new. Rick has been honing his skills since 1982, with performances in the US, Canada, Trinidad and England.

Here is Rick Ramdehal’s full performance bio

1982	Started singing career	Clyfee Madhu Radio Show	W/ Members of the Swar Sangeet Group
		Diwali conert	W/ Members of the Swar Sangeet Group
1984	Swarangeet band founded	W/ Ramdehals	Isardat, Dharmendra, Surendra, Devindra
1986	Happy birthday to you	Bisram Bhagan	Music by Swarangeet
1989	Recorded 3 albums with	Devindra Pooran	Music by Swarangeet
	Shakespeare Competition	New York High School	Top 5 Finalist
1992	Soca Lambada	Terry Gajraj
1997	Musically Yours	Swarangeet	Music by Swarangeet
1999	Simply Chutney	Swarangeet	Music by Swarangeet
2000	Bollywood Movie Awards	As back up singer to Terry Gajraj		Nassau Coliseum
2001	Chutney Soca Monarch	Guest Singer		Trinidad
2002	Chutney Soca Monarch	6th Place		Trinidad
2003	Chutney Soca Monarch
2004	Sexy Dancin’	1st Solo Album
2007	Bollywood Movie Awards	Ecstasy, Sexy Dancin’, In Da Mood	W/ D. Flex, Vani (QCQD), Natraj	Nassau Coliseum
2007	Released songs	In da mood	W/ Dutty Flex
		All I need	W/ Dutty Flex
		Thinkin’ bout you	W/ Dutty Flex
2011		Dard e dil	Music: Surendra, Video: Devindra
2012		Chaand mera dil	Music: Surendra, Video: Devindra
2013	Wait for it!

Where is the rest of the project? Slow down it is hot outside. The rest is coming this week.

Short Story by Vishnu Doerga: Unlimited Potential

This is a guest post by Vishnu Doerga

My first attempt at short story writing! - complete story. Each line goes as deep as you want it to.
Once upon a time, on a beach called 63, a group of friends were enjoying the sandy shores.
One decides to enter the coffee colored waters in order to escape the sweltering heat. Being a non-swimmer, she chooses to carefully venture deeper, still standing on firm ground.
Suddenly....a steep drop, she goes under...soft, fluffy mud is all she feels below her feet.
Her friends, still standing on shore, now become aware of her predicament.
Now this is where it gets interesting...
Would our friend prefer her closest companion, a non-swimmer, such as herself or the best swimmer in the group to come to her rescue?
The choice, on her part, seems logical. However, at this point, logics fly out the door. Human relationships kick in...has she ever hurt the best swimmer? If so, how deep did the hurt go?
Back on shore, her closest companion goes into a frantic panic, knowing he can't swim as well. Going into the water will most likely cost his life as well.
With no other groups nearby, these friends look at each other, looking for one to volunteer.
The best and probably the only swimmer in the lot suddenly starts seeing flashbacks of the hurt inflicted over the years. Very deep hurt indeed. Is this faith?
A second passes.
The swimmer quickly realizes that her skill, her talent, perfected through hard work with the blessings of the divine, may have been hers for this very day.
Into the water she speeds, heading for an outstretched, disappearing hand. She returns dragging a shaken, still conscious soul back to shore.
Our shaken friend looks around and breaks down in tears realizing the fragility of life. Her faith lay in the hands of one she hurt deeply.
She wonders.....would I have been able to do the same?
Established human nature is a female dog.
Persons prefer to follow or befriend those like themselves. This is the easiest and definitely more fun option.
Nothing in this world worth having, comes easy!
Learning to swim, while others partied is definitely a skill worth having. A skill that can not be learned whilst drowning.
This short story plays out everyday with and around us. Realizing what is important and what really needs to be done is the trick to avoiding life/career/financial/family/etc threatening situations.
The story could have gone a different route if our swimmer had looked the other way. This is something we all do, everyday. We look away from those in need. We keep our skills to ourselves and those willing to pay in one form or the other.
This can not be right!!
We are all born with unlimited potential. The time and effort we put into unlocking our potential in any particular area should serve as an inspiration to those searching souls. Our skills should be given where and when needed in as high a volume as required and possible.
Our choices, many times, resemble the results of popularity contests. Popular persons will always feed you what you like to consume. This is how they stay popular. When you need the 'populars' they are more often than not, unavailable.
Respect the skilled ones who tell you what you need to hear instead of what sounds nice. This way you have the data available to make better choices.
The question facing our victim, faces us everyday. Would we choose to place our faith in popular hands or in skilled hands?
Popular and skilled is very rare.
Hope my attempt at a short story makes you think about your choices. And help you make better ones.
Peace.

Vishnu Doerga is the Director of The Best Management Company and Owner of Venu Shopping Centre.
Director Profile
Mr. Vishnu KPV Doerga, DME, MBA. –
Short Bio Data – Chamber of Commerce
Mr. Doerga is a member of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and Secretary/Immediate Past President of the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce & Industry (UCCCI). After joining the UCCCI in 2003 he held several executive posts, becoming President in 2010 at the age of 29. He was awarded the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Young Business Executive Award 2011, in recognition of his demonstration of ambition, skill, vision and tangible business success.
Mr. Doerga is qualified in several fields including Engineering and Business Administration and is currently preparing to pursue his Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA). Mr. Doerga is also a director/business consultant with Doerga Business Enterprises.
Mr. Doerga plays an active role in Private Sector Development making representation in among others, the Education (TVET Council), Health (BRHA board), Energy (ESG), Infrastructure (ISG) and Employment (SKYE EAG) sectors.
Mr. Doerga has represented the private sector as an Association of Regional Chambers of Commerce (ARCC) executive and Private Sector Commission (PSC) council member.

Thanks for sharing this inspirational story with us.

A musical mirage

Do we really know our partners before we make a lifelong commitment? How many of us take our partners at face value? We look at the exterior, a beautiful body, a great family, fancy cars, big houses, lavish lifestyles and popular circles. Do we ever look beyond, into the soul, into the darkest and deepest corners of another’s persona?


Photo courtesy Stealth Productions/Photographer: Sunil Persaud

Donald Andrews and Neil Anthony Bacchus of Stealth Productions, wrapped their creative minds around a very taboo subject in our Caribbean Community. In today’s “feel good” society we often tend to sweep heavy topics and unpopular dialogue out by the grass corner. In music, artists are encouraged to write and produce more of similar material that the public divulge in droves. How many more ways can one thing be said? Or is it, that we are too busy suffocating our own emotions, that we could care less for anything else?

Who are we in this world, if we cannot care for the perils of our fellow human kind? Our time and energies are taken up focusing only on what we see on the surface. Whatever we don’t see or comes to our doorstep is not our concern. But what happens when that concern is on our doorstep. What do we do? Do we turn away and sweep it out to the grass and hope someone else will take out the trash? Or do we open our eyes and deal with the issues?

I had the honor of talking for a few minutes with Donald Andrews, who wrote, sang, and performed this song. Here is an excerpt from our conversation:

Eric: What was your inspiration for writing this song?
Donald: This song was written two years ago with the intention of entering the Trinidad Chutney Soca Monach Competitions, in collaboration with Big Rich and the Pungalunks Factory. But the promoters decided that the subject was not ready for prime time. I felt that there had to be a more constructive way of approaching the issue.
Eric: Why did you choose to showcase this issue in the manner you did?
Donald: This is a very gender neutral issue. It can happen to anyone. However, given the scores of women issues that get suffocated, I felt that this was my way of bringing light to the subject.
Eric: You’ve been in the business a while, why tackle this issue now?
Donald: When I started out a long time ago, being the front man for Gemini Band, we tore up the New York music scene. We brought it everytime to clubs and shows. As time went on, I gravitated to gospel music and my fate. Now in a subtle nudge I think our community needs to pay attention to some of these social issues that affect us.
Eric: What do you hope to achieve with this song and video?
Donald: I am in no way an activist. Neither do I intend to take a hard stance on the topic. But I wish for our community to recognize that there are two sides to every story and sometimes the untold is the truth. What we hide in our bedrooms and closets are more damaging than what we face everyday. I think we can do better as a society.

Go Download the song for FREE on Donald Andrews SoundCloud HERE.

In dialogue with Tony about his direction for this video, I came to realize the artistic and responsive talent of a young man that is rare in the music industry. Many people would take the negative angle of depicting this issue for it’s big, bold, knock over the head sensationalism. However, Tony was determined to not showcase a derogatory side but let the audience read between the lines. The stage-set for this video is very simple but purposeful. If you look very closely there are subtle signs that tells the story. There is nothing in the scenes that are happenstance, every item and movement carries a line in the narrative. Notice the three candles? What do they mean? How about the artist rendering? Why? Visualize the camera angles that tell a story through smoke scenes.


Photo courtesy Stealth Productions/Photographer: Sunil Persaud

Like most of Stealth Productions projects, this also holds true to carrying a positive meaningful message to our Caribbean Community. As is said in their website Welcome message,  “We take pride in our work and we intend to uphold our reputation on the scruples that the company was built on, integrity.” Those are difficult words to live by in this world of insatiable desire for regurgitating music. The current trend in West Indian music is this butchering of classical music, remixing 5 songs to make one, overlaying words on music that is timeless, singing pieces of Indian music that translates to nothing in particular and blending it all into one. This practice has it’s place if done tactfully and respectfully. Stealth Productions seeks some form of originality, modern, cutting edge music that carries an impactful stamp.


Photo courtesy Stealth Productions/Photographer: Sunil Persaud

Who is the “She” in She’s Ah Drinka video? Former New York catalog model Rachel Persaud signed on to showcase the hush side. An excerpt from our conversation:

Eric: Why did you choose to participate in this project?
Rachel: The subject matter was very attractive. I wanted to be a part of showing how my younger generation is taking the perils of older generations to a more liberal level.
Eric: Why do you think that the younger generation is more liberal?
Rachel: We grow up with more open socializing, hanging out, clubbing, and other activities. This encourages us to indulge in questionable behavior at a young age. While most of this behavior is accepted in males, females are the same participants. But females are never assigned any responsibility.
Eric: Are you taking a hard stance against this issue?
Rachel: I am hoping to raise awareness that there are two sides to this issue and encouraging others to take a look at themselves.
Eric: Why choose to appear in a music video over catalog modeling?
Rachel: The video content is very appealing. I feel that this video carries a message that needs to resonate with my generation.

Often in our Caribbean Community we tend to shy away from social issues even though they consume our daily lives. The people who take on these challenges are brave and sometimes shunned. When we take a stand, whether hard or soft, we are marginalized. Yet there are outcries when major disaster strikes on our doorstep. Are we ever going to stop and think? Are we ever going to take a stand? Are we ever going to acknowledge and recognize the signs? Are we ever going to reach out and extend a hand to our fellow mankind? Tony, Donald, and Rachel did? Are you going to follow? 

Go Check out and Share the Stealth Productions YouTube video for She’s Ah Drinka HERE.

#ShesAhDrinka

 

Grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.                        

--Reinhold Niebuhr

A Place of Relaxation

There are so many complains and frustration making the media circus out of Guyana, that you would think, what a total disaster.

Not so fast naysayer! I recently made friends with a very nice doctor from Skeldon Hospital, Dr. Vishalya Sharma, on Facebook. Being the nosy person I am, I clicked through her photos. To my utmost delight, I found some pictures which raised my curiosity to a very high level of excitement. Did you know that there was a park at #63 Beach? Okay, not the beach it self, but right before you get to the beach.

A park? Built by whom? For whom? Yes, there are good things happening in Guyana. I am told that "Uncle Joe" built this park by himself for the kids in the neighborhood. Apparently, this park was built at least before Dec, 2011. I consider myself very informed about the happenings in and around Skeldon all the way up the Corentyne and to some extent the other parts of Guyana. But a park built right under my nose and I had no idea?

Could it be that Uncle Joe saw the need and just did the right thing, without the hoopla of media and a big splash? I believe so. Not a single whisper on any social media. By chance I saw the pictures of the good doctor. Here is exactly what Guyana needs. I have always supported the notion that Guyana can be rebuilt and developed by the people living in Guyana.

Who knows better what is needed than people living in Guyana? Guyanese living day to day in Guyana! More people should follow suit and take up projects that benefits the community. I don't know Uncle Joe's background, but any person who can give of himself to the public without asking for anything in return is a person worth mentioning. This is how communities are built. This is a neighbor taking care of his neighbors' children. This is necessary in Guyana today.

Help from overseas in the "Hammock Raja" fashion is not the answer. There are tons of Guyanese willing to reach back into their village and render assistance. But it seems like a black hole to fill. People continue to give and nothing changes. The same hand outs happen year in, year out. Next year same thing, the other year same thing. Give a man a fish and he continues to ask, show that man how to fish and he eats everyday. Further, if that man learns to fish by himself, he eats all the time. Life is not easy anywhere. Times are changing in the diaspora. The money tree is getting dry and whittled.

Uncle Joe has shown that a little thought and generosity can go a long way. There was a Christmas party at this park last year. From the images, it is clear that these kids had a ball. This park serves as a sanctuary from everyday life. Like so many other parks in many other parts of the world, this is where people recharge their batteries and take things a little easier. More of this take charge of your own destiny is the key to Guyana's emergence out of this black hole.

I encourage more people to follow suit. Go to this park, take pictures, enjoy the peace, give back to your community. Share your thoughts and pictures. Thank you, Uncle Joe, for making a child's life fun again.